Accused murderer James Calvert loses parental rights

James Calvert found himself back in court Wednesday. It was less than 24 hours after losing his parental rights over two children from his marriage to Jelena Sriraman--whom he's accused of killing on Halloween of 2012.

On Tuesday, Smith County 321st District Judge Carole Clark approved a mediated settlement agreement which specifies that Calvert's children will be living with Calvert's cousin in Ohio. The agreement ends a long term foster care situation that's been in place since Jelena's murder and Calvert's alleged subsequent kidnapping of his young son.

The agreement terminates Calvert's parental rights, which had continued to exist despite his extended and indefinite jail visit.

Then on Wednesday, Calvert went in front of Judge Jack Skeen Jr. over a motion by the prosecution to reschedule his next pretrial hearing based on a scheduling conflict.

Calvert, who is defending himself after firing his court-appointed lawyers, required lengthy explanations of decisions and complained of being unable to properly engage in the subpoena process prior to his trial. All of those issues turned what's normally a 2-minute hearing into a 40-minute ordeal.

Calvert's next pretrial hearing is Thursday, April 24. His murder trial is scheduled for October.